Container opener



May 5, 1936. c. F. GAILOR CONTAINER OPENER Filed Jan. 25, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 5, 1936. c. F. GAILOR CONTAINER OPENER Filed Jan. 23, 1935 May 5, 1936. c. F. GAILOR CONTAINER OPENER Filed Jan. 23, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 5, 1936 .UNITED STATES PATENT tries i This invention relates generally to dispensing equipment and more particularly to improved means for piercing, bending or cutting the top or any side portion in whole or part of a sealed 5 container so as to allow for the complete and rapid drainage of liquid from the container. While my invention may be employed in connection with a container for various liquids or substances, it is particularly adapted to facilitate 10 the sale of engine lubricating oils. It is a common practice in gasoline filling stations for automobiles, to have bottles of lubricating oil usually of quart size already filled and provided with-a spout for pouring the oil into the engine crank- 15 case. This method not only insures a correct measure of lubricant but also saves the time required for measuring theoil in case it would have to be drawn from a drum at the time the customer drives in.

20 The difilculties with glass bottles are believedv to be apparent and hence the use of paper or cardboard containers is desirable. Suchcontainers have the advantage not only of cheapness,

but also may be sealed in small quantities by the 25 oil manufacturer at a relatively low container cost, thereby insuring the purchaser that he is obtaining the quality of oil desired. I

It is one object of my invention to provide improved means whereby a sealed lubricant con- 30 tainer may be opened easily and quickly while at the same time insuring that all of the liquid content may be poured from the container, and in another aspect of the invention it is desired that my improved cutting device may be adapted 5 to also serve as the pouring spout.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide means which perferably is placed over the top of the container so that there is a mutual supporting relation therebetween 40 during the opening operation and to have the specific opening element for either piercing, bending or cutting the container, can-led by the member which fits over the container.

It will be apparent from the following descrip- 5 tion of the accompanying drawings that other objects and advantages may. beobtained, these drawings containing the following figures for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary partial sectional per- 5 spective view of the top of a conical container with one form of my improved opener .partially placed over the top of the container;

Fig. 2 isa vertical section of a modification wherein the container top will be cut;

65 Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my improved device adapted to be inserted over the top of the container after which a cutting knife is pressed 7 through the side of the container; v

Fig. 4 is a further modification showing th cutting, piercing or bending elements supported 5 along substantially radial lines;

Fig. 5 is a still further modification showing rollers for cutting the top of the container;

Fig. 6 is another modification wherein the cutting element may be supported on the container by a suitable cap with independent rotation for the cutting element; x

Fig. '7 is a further modification, which is particularly adapted for a cylindrical container, having prongs or other suitable cutting elements arranged to engage the container top;

Fig. Bis an elevation of a container with my improved combined cutting and dispensing spout shown in position for pouring liquid from the container;

Fig. 9 is a further modification of the knife blades;

Fig. 10 isa still further modification wherein a combined cutter and strainer is provided;

Fig. 11 is a further modification for cutting the container andstraining the liquid;

Fig. 12 is a further modification of an improved form;

Figs. 13 and 14 are different modifications wherein a perforated tubular member extends through the shield or guide which receives the container.

Of the various illustrated embodiments of the invention I have shown in Fig. 1 a sealed conical container made of thin metal, paper or other cellulose material and suitably treated for resistlng liquids such as lubricating oil. This container i has preferably a sealed top 2 and to facilitate opening thereof, I provide a combined opener and spout having a conical sheet metal sleeve 3 in which is inserted. a mating sleeve 4 having a series of circumferentially disposed intumed cutting blades 5. As many or few of these blades could be used as desired but in any event each blade is preferably tapered to a point 5 6 and the blades are appreciably spaced apart to provide openings 1, these openings extending to the periphery of sleeve 4 thereby insuring complete drainage of the lubricant from the container.

In the operation of this device the attendant would merely press the cutting head down over the top of the container and at the same time partially rotate the head to completely out the top 2. The top of the container would be forced conicalsleeveiusedasaspouttodirecttheoil into the engine crankcase.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, outer conical sleeve 8 carries an internal-conical sleeve 9 secured at its lower end to the outer sleeve and spaced therefrom to provide a circular tapered passage II. A series of piercing prongs i2 project inwardly from inner sleeve 8. These prongs are formed v by pressing in a portion of the inner sleeve and at the sametime providing openings ll through which lubricant would pass when the cutting head and its prongs are pressed down over and made to cut the top of the container. If desired however the diameter of inner sleeve 9 may be willciently large to permit prongs I! to engage the sides of a container upon beinginserted thereover, thus effecting a slitting of the sides. This arrangement may be also applied to openers-for cylindrical containers if desired.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 a conical sleeve I4 is adapted to extend over a conical container and have its top engaged by a stop flange II secured to the inner side of the conical sleeve. In this form the wall of the container is preferably cut adjacent its top and to accomplish this a small cylinder I6 is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the outer side of conical sleeve M to support a knife II. This knifeis'provided with a flange l9 which engages the rear end of guide cylinder it when normally pressed outwardly by a spring i8 interposed between the flange I! and the wall of sleeve I I. A suitable push button 2| is formed on an outward extension of the knife to permit the same to be pressed inwardly through a suitable slot II for cutting the wall of the container. It will be understood of course that when the knife once pierces the container, the attendant will rotate the outer sleeve II to complete the cutting operation. The cut top may then be removed from within the sleeve I4 and the sleeve, if desired, could be replaced over the open top of the container to serve as a spout. The stop l5 may be provided with a reversely bent prong adapted to engage the container top upon slight reverse rotation of the cutting head,

thus insuring that the top will be lifted off when the head is removed.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 it is desired to tear and bend portions of the top in order to provide necessary drainage for the oil. A relatively few knives 24 are preferably formed by being bent down from a partition 25 supported by and formed as a part of a sleeve 28 which in turn is disposed internally of and secured to an outer conical sleeve 21. The prongs 24 are preferably so disposed that their surfaces are substantially inclined with respect to the axis of the sleeves. The operation of this modification is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 9 wherein an outer conical sleeve 28 carries an internally fitted sleeve 29 having a series of inwardly projecting inclined prongs 30 spaced apart to provide drainage openings 3| which extend to the edge of the sleeve 29. As will be noted in Fig. 9, and similarly for Fig. 4, these prongs will first engage the conical top 2' near its center and as the spout sleeve 28 is pressed downwardly the container top will be torn along dotted lines 32 and at the same time the torn portions of the top will be bent inwardly to permit complete drainage of oil within the container. The operation of the To accomplish this an outer cylindrical sleeve 33 a is provided with a spout 34. An inner cylindrical sleeve has a series of downwardly projecting inclined prongs 36 with drainage openings 31 between the adjacent prongs. Sleeves l5 and I! may be suitably secured together as by riveting, soldering or the like. The operation of this arrangement permits the cutting head to be pressed down over a cylindrical container and without the necessity of rotating the'head, the prongs 36 will tear and bend portions of the container top inwardly so as to permit proper drainage of oil in the manner shown in Fig. 8.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, a conical cutting head I! has an end I! with an opening through which a stem ll projects to carry a cutting head ll, this stem also being guided by an internal bearing partition 42 fitting the conical sleeve 38. A washer 43 is secured to stem 4| so that a spring 44 interposed between washer l3 and partition 42 will normally yieldably hold the cutter 4| in an upper position. The cutter 4| may be provided with any suitable form of prongs l5 projecting outwardly near the inner surface of sleeve 38. In operation of this device the cutting head is placed down over the container and the attendant merely presses down on the handle 46 to force the cutters 45 through the container top and if desired handle 46 may also be rotated so as to completely sever the top. In any case the top will 'be vided to'permit drainage of the lubricant without removing the cutting head.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 a conical sleeve 41 carries a rotatable shaft ll provided with angularly disposed cutters 48 secured to the shaft. As a result of this construction when the cutting head is placed down over the container top and rotated the cutting discs 49 will rotate with a wobbling action, thus cutting portions of container top near the periphery of the container, thereby permitting complete drainage'of the oil from various circumferential points around the top.

' In the modification shown in Fig. 10 a cylindrical housing 50 is formed with a spout 5| while an internal cylindrical sleeve 52 soldered or other wise suitably secured to outer sleeve 50 carries an inner top or cross-piece 53. Projecting downwardly from this cross-piece are a series of perforated pipes 54 whose lower ends are inclined as at 55 to facilitate cutting of the top when the cutting head is pressed down over a cylindrical container. When the container and cutting head are inverted, oil will pass through lateral perforations into the ends of pipes 54 to fiow out through the upper ends 56 thereof.

In the modification of Fig. 11 a cylindrical outer casing 51 is similarly provided with a tapered spout 58. A cylindrical internal member 59 has a curved portion 60 fitting within a corresponding portion of the outer sleeve 51 and is secured thereto in any desired manner. An opening 6| in this inner member is provided preferably with a screen 62 while the lower end of the inner member carries a series of. cutting. piercing or bending prongs 68. In this construction it is seen that the cutting head merely has to be pressed down over the top of a cylindrical container and thereby sufficiently rupture, cut or otherwise open the container top to permit lubricant to flow through the openings formed thereby. The strainer-screen 62 may be placed in the small end of the pouring spout or in any location therein and this applies also to the other modifications.

In the modification shown in Fig. 12 a. lower cylindrical, slightly offset, sleeve 65 is adapted to receive 'a cylindrical container while an upper cylindrical element 86 is adapted to have telescopic engagementwith the upper end of sleeve 65 and be soldered or otherwise suitably secured thereto. A spout 61 is secured to the upper element 66 and is provided with a strainer 88 covering an opening 89 in the element 86. Before the telescoping elements 85 and 68 are pressed together, a cutting plate 50 is placed within a curved portion ll of element 66. This cutting plate may be provided withv a series of openings 12 near its center so as to permit complete drainage of oil when the cutting prongs 13 press through the container top. These prongs are preferably few in number and are bent down along radial lines somewhat in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Lubricant will flow through the openings in the top formed by the prongs l3 and in addition any trapped lubricant between the uncut portion of the top and the cutting plate ill will flow through openings 12 thereby permitting complete drainage of the oil. The prongs are also adapted to slit or tear the side of the container as by passing down through the top and edges thereof and then into the sides.

The Fig. 13 form is adapted particularly for a container having a bulged top 15, this arrangement including a cutting head having a cylindrical portion I6 provided with an opening ll over which is disposed a tapered sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 has horizontal portions 19 and 88 for guiding an axially movable combined punch and drain 8| which is a hollow pipe normally urged upwardly by a spring 82 interposed between a flange 83 and partition l9. The outer end of pipe 8| has a fiat portion 84 to provide a sufficiently large surface on which an attendant may press with his hand to force the tapered end 85 of pipe 8| through the top of the container. After the point 85 has pierced the container, oil therein will flow through the series of lateral ports 85 and out through the hollow pipe 8| into the engine.

In Fig. 14 there is shown an arrangement involving the principle of Fig. 13 except that the discharge pipe 88 is fixed to the cylindrical guide head 89 which fits down over the top of the cylindrical container the same as in the other forms. Pipe 88 is suitably soldered or otherwise fixed to head 89 and projects into the same to carry cutting or piercing prongs 90. The container top may be punctured by cutters 98 so that the entire inner portion 9| of drain pipe 88 will pass into the container or if desired only the prongs 90 need pass through the container top as the oil will flow through the openings formed therein and then into the space confined between the container top and the head 89 from which space the oil will flow inwardly through openings 92 or 93.

From the foregoing disclosure of the several modifications it is seen that I have provided an extremely simple means whereby a sealed container lubricant or similar liquid may be readily cut, bent, severed or otherwise tom or opened 1 to permit complete drainage of lubricant from withinthe container and through the spout which may be formed as an integral part of the. cutting head thereby permitting the attendant in one.

cutting head snugly to prevent leakage and to accomplish this for cylindrical containers the cutting head may be slightly tapered so that the head and container are wedged together. In all modifications a strainer screen may be placed either at the large or small end of the spout or at any other point therein.

It will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the details of construction of the several modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for opening a sealed container com-.

prising, a member having a portion adapted to telescopically receive the top of the container, and inclined prongs supported at their inner ends by said member and having their free ends project inwardly towards the axial center thereof whereby upon insertion of the container within said member the container will have portions thereof automatically cut and pressed inwardly to provide openings through which a liquid may pour from within a container.

2. A device for opening a sealed container comprising, a member adapted to receive the top of the container, and prongs having free ends projecting inwardly from the side of said member toward its axis, whereby upon placing said member over the end of the container said prongs will engage the container top near the center thereof so that upon continued insertion of the container within said member, portions of the container top will be torn and bent inwardly to permit liquid within the container to pour therethrough.

3. A device for opening a sealed container comprising, a member adapted to telescopically receive the top of a conical container, and prongs carried by said member and having free ends projecting inwardly and downwardly from said member to engage and cut a container top when telescoped therewith, said cutting operation starting at a point spaced inwardly of the container wall and progressing outwardly thereto.

4. A device for opening a sealed container comprising, a member adapted to have telescopic entainer; the portion of said member above said prongs serving asa spout to pour liquid from the container after the top has been opened.

5. A device for opening a sealed container comprising, a member adapted to telescopically receive the top portion of a container, and a sleeve supported within said'm'ember and from which prongs are formed by being bent from the sleeve, said prongs having free ends adapted to engage and tear the container" top while said telescopic relation is being effected.

6. A device for opening a sealed container comprising, a cylindrical member adapted to telescopically receive a cylindrical container, and a reduced spout carried by said cylindrical member and formed as a part thereof, and prongs carried within said cylindrical member and projecting with free ends in a downwardly inclined direction whereby when said telescopic relation is eflected a container top is adapted to be severed starting at a point spaced from the container wall and progressing outwardly thereto.

CHESTER F. GAILOR. 

